CHAMPAIGN (25News Now) – Governor J.B. Pritzker proposed legislation in the General Assembly that would force all Illinois schools to keep students from using cell phones during classroom instruction.
Pritzker argued that phones in the classroom increase distraction, worsen student mental health, and give students opportunities to cheat.
He spoke Thursday at Champaign’s Centennial High School, which has a policy in place to stop kids from using cell phones during classes. Other school districts, including Peoria, have similar policies in place.
There are two pieces of legislation with the proposed cell phone policy. One is working its way through the House and another through the Senate. The governor did not have a strong preference between the two.
“We want to make sure that classroom time is for learning, and that teachers are able to connect with their students during classroom time. The precise method is less important to me than making sure we have that baseline,” Pritzker said.
The governor indicated that school districts would have freedom to enforce a cell phone limit how they see fit. It would be up to school boards to review the effectiveness of the area’s policy every three years.
“The proposal minimizes disruptions, helps prevent cyberbullying, and encourages in-person social interactions among students, while preserving each district’s ability to design a local policy that works for their community’s needs,” said State Superintendent Tony Sanders in a press release.
However, state officials don’t want to see the policy enforced by fines, fees, or law enforcement officers.
Pritzker supports exemptions to the cell phone bans for students who need to use a cell phone for medical reasons, like using an app to monitor a health condition. Students would also be allowed to use phones in the event of an emergency.
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